Neil Heslin, holding a picture of himself with his son Jesse, testifies at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford, Conn., Monday, Jan. 28, 2013. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Neil Heslin, the father of a 6-year-old boy who was slain in the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, stoically faced down pro-gun activists last night.

More than 1,000 people attended a hearing before the Gun Violence Prevention Working Group at the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Monday to share their views on gun control, USA Today reported. Among them was Heslin, who held a large framed picture of himself and his son Jesse as he urged officials to consider strengthening gun laws in Connecticut.

But as he gave his emotional testimony, pleading with lawmakers to improve mental health options and to ban assault weapons like the one Adam Lanza used to murder his child and 25 other people, his speech was interrupted by dozens of audience members, The Connecticut Post reported.

“I still can't see why any civilian, anybody in this room in fact, needs weapons of that sort. You're not going to use them for hunting, even for home protection," Heslin said.

Undeterred, Heslin continued. "There are a lot of things that should be changed to prevent what happened."

Heslin's son, Jesse McCord Lewis, was described by friends as a happy child, The Post reported. A "little cowboy," Jesse reportedly liked to play with the fake horses at a local Western-themed restaurant. After he was shot and killed by Lanza, a line of police officers on horseback joined the motorcade at the boy's funeral.

"He was a boy that loved life. Lived it to the fullest…He was my son, he was my buddy, he was my best friend." Heslin said.

To honor their "irrepressible" son who dreamed of becoming an architect, a paleontologist and a lighthouse keeper, Benjamin Wheeler's parents have established Ben's Lighthouse, a group that supports the healing of Newtown's children in a safe, non-violent environment. Find out how you can get involved here.

To honor their smiley 6-year-old girl who loved to paint, Emilie Parker's parents have set the Emilie Parker Art Connection, an organization that supports the arts with funding for programs in the community and schools. Find out how you can get involved here.

Honored at his funeral by the very firefighters whose shoes he hoped to one day fill, Daniel Barden already knew his dream job at age 7 and how important it was to extend support to kids with special needs. To perpetuate his legacy, his parents launched the "What Would Daniel Do" movement to inspire people to treat one another with kindness as Daniel would. Learn more here.

A heroic teacher who reportedly hid some students during the shooting and died trying to shield them from bullets, Victoria Soto is being honored through two memorial funds. Donations to the Vicki Soto Memorial Fund can be mailed to P.O. Box 411, 411 Barnum Avenue Stratford, CT 06614. Donations can also be made to the Victoria Leigh Soto Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund created by Eastern Connecticut State University to support students studying to become teachers who have unmet financial needs. Learn more here.

On Feb. 22, what would have been Charlotte Bacon’s seventh birthday, the little girl’s supporters will announce the winners of the Charlotte Bacon Act of Kindness Award. The initiative encourages people 18 and under to submit a drawing or story about an inspiring selfless act, along with $5 –- to support a fund for Sandy Hook shooting victims. Learn more here.

The heroic principal who died while lunging unarmed at Adam Lanza as he fired bullets at her students, according to officials, will be remembered through a fund set up in her honor. Find out how you can get involved in the Dawn Lafferty Hochsprung Memorial Fund here.

Rachel D’Avino, a behavioral therapist who shielded her students from bullets, according to ABC News, is being honored through a fund set up in her name. Find out how you can get involved with the Rachel Marie D’Avino Memorial Fund here.

To help the parents of Olivia Engel -- a 6-year-old girl who "had perfect manners" and was the "teacher's pet, the line leader" –- take time to grieve for their daughter, supporters have set up the Friends of the Engel Family Fund. Find out how you can donate here.

Her parents’ “little hummingbird,” Avielle Richman, 6, loved horses, Harry Potter and the color red and will be honored through a fund set up in her name. Contributions to the Avielle Richman Memorial Fund can be made to PO Box 686, Newtown, CT 06470.

Josephine Gay never learned to speak, but the girl with the “indomitable” spirit was social, affectionate and partook in rigorous therapy daily without complaint, according to a statement released by her parents. To help other kids with autism, who face many of the same struggles Josephine tackled head on, her family has set up “Joey’s Fund” through the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism. Find out how you can get involved here.

An “upbeat and kind” 6-year-old who loved to wear bright, flowery dresses, a neighbor told the Wall Street Journal, Madeleine Hsu will be honored through a memorial fund set up in her name. Donations can be sent to the Madeleine Hsu Memorial Fund, c/o Wells Fargo Bank, 26 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470

Dylan Hockley, 6, died in the arms of his favorite teacher, Anne Marie Murphy, according to a statement released by the family. His parents now hope to give other kids with autism the kind of specialized attention that helped Dylan thrive through a fund set up in his name. Donations to the Dylan Hockley Memorial Fund can be made online or sent to PO Box 553 Botsford, CT 06404.

To keep alive their daughter’s deep-seated love of animals, Catherine Violet Hubbard’s parents have asked supporters to donate to the Newtown Animal Shelter, an organization that cares for homeless, unwanted and abandoned animals. Find out how you can make a contribution in Catherine’s memory here.

An avid athlete who loved baseball and had already won his first “mini triathlon” at age 6, Chase Kowalski’s parents hope to honor their son’s vivacious spirit through a fund set up in his name and through a still developing project, called "Chase’s Place." Find out more here.

To honor the little boy who shared his mom’s love of horses, and often fell asleep in her arms, Jesse Lewis’ parents set up a memorial fund in his name that will pay for Jesse’s older brother’s education and college tuition. Find out how you can get involved here.

She was only 6 when she died, but Ana Grace Márquez-Greene had already cultivated a deep passion for singing and dancing, a passion her parents hope to make possible for other aspiring artists through a music scholarship fund at Western Connecticut State University. The Marquez-Greene family has also established a therapy fund to help them through the grieving process. Find out how you can involved here and here.

To honor their son whom they described as an "energetic, loving friend to all,” James R. Mattioli’s parents have set up a memorial fund in his name. Donations can be sent to the
James R. Mattioli Memorial Fund c/o Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470.

Grace Audrey McDonnell, 7, was a "girly girl" who loved playing dress-up and wearing pink, her grandmother told Irish Central, and her family hopes to keep her legacy alive through the Grace Memorial Fund at the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Donations can be mailed to the Fairfield County Community Foundation, 383 Main Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851.

She died cradling Dylan Hockley, the autistic 6-year-old for whom she served as a teacher's aide, according NBC. Anne Marie Murphy's family hopes to keep alive her passion for helping kids with special needs by asking supporters to donate to the country's largest autism science and advocacy organization, Autism Speaks, in her honor. Learn more here.

A diehard Giants fan who was honored after his passing by his favorite player, Victor Cruz, according to the New York Daily News, Jack Pinto, 6, will be remembered through a fund set up in his name that will disperse money to organizations that help families in need. Find out how you can get involved with the Jack A. Pinto Charitable Fund here.

The youngest of the 20 children killed during the shooting, Noah Pozner leaves behind four siblings, including his twin sister and best friend, Arielle. Supporters have set up the Noah's Ark of Hope Fund to provide the little boy's siblings with counseling services, education and basic needs. Donations can be made online and checks can be mailed to Noah's Ark of Hope Fund 261 S. Main St. #332 Newtown, CT 06470.

To honor Caroline Previdi, a 6-year-old who loved to draw and dance, Beta Theta Pi –- the fraternity to which her father belonged –- launched a fund in her memory that will help support the grieving family and provide college tuition scholarships to worthy students majoring in Education, according to the New York Daily News. Find out how you can support the Caroline Previdi of Sandy Hook Elementary Memorial Scholarship Fund here.

Remembered as a little girl who adored horses, the movie “Free Willy” and playing with her two younger brothers, according to CBS, Jessica Rekos is being honored through a fund set up in her name. Donations can be sent to the Jessica Rekos Memorial Fund PO Box 713, Newtown, CT 06470-0713

When Lauren Rousseau landed a permanent substitute teaching job at Sandy Hook Elementary School, her mother told the NewsTimes it was the “best year of her life." A scholarship fund has been set up in her name through the Pi Beta Phi Foundation. Find out how you can get involved here.

School psychologist Mary Sherlach lunged toward Adam Lanza in an effort to stop the gunman and died while trying to protect her beloved students, officials said. Family members are honoring Sherlach's memory through a fund set up in her memory through the Fairfield County Community Foundation. Learn how you can get involved here.

Allison Wyatt "loved to laugh and was developing her own wonderful sense of humor,” her family wrote in a statement obtained by NBC. The Wyatts have established two funds in Allison’s memory –- the fund set up in her name will support charities in her honor and the second will provide Allison's younger sister with ongoing support and help pay for her college education. Donations payable to "Ben Wyatt as Custodian" can be mailed to Steve DeMartino, c/o TransAct Technologies Inc., One Hamden Center, 2319 Whitney Avenue, Suite 3B, Hamden, CT 06518.